Praised by critics as the “sound wizard” (Rheinische Post – DE) for his “total control of the instrument’s sound” as well as an “extraordinary musician” (Scherzo – ES) with a “technical perfection and enviable aesthetic sensitivity” (Público – PT), Horácio Ferreira performs as concert soloist, chamber musician and recitalist. Nominated “Rising Star” of the European Concert Hall Organization, Horácio played in concert in the most prestigious venues, including the Philharmonie in Paris, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Musikverein in Vienna, or the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
Horácio was the Young Musician of the year 2014 and the first clarinetist to win both junior and senior division of the Radio & Television-PJM Competition, also won prizes at the “Concours Debussy” in Paris, at the “Prague Spring Music Competition” in Prague, at the “Estoril National Competition” and was winner of the “International Clarinet Competition J. Pakalnis” in Vilnius, the “La Salette National Competition” and the “Ageas New Talents” in Oporto. He received the Medal of Merit from the Municipality of Santa Comba Dão, the Revelation Award from the “Anim’Art” magazine and was a fellow of the Gulbenkian Foundation.
Horácio Ferreira’s international career has seen him tour Europe, China, Brazil, USA, Dubai, Israel and appeared as a soloist with Gulbenkian Orchestra, Porto Casa da Música Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, Orquestra XXI, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Portuguese Symphony Wind Orchestra, among others. He is founder of the Art’Ventus Quintet and member of the ars ad hoc ensemble, exploring the different possibilities in chamber music.
Currently he is a PhD student at the Aveiro University, where he is also professor.
Horácio Ferreira is a Vandoren artist and since 2018 he has become artistic advisor for the Marvão International Music Festival (FIMM).
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